Method and apparatus for drying prints



Nov. 22, 1938.

I G. M. DYE

Fild April 18, 1935 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING PRINTS 4 Sheets-Sheet $1. EN /7 firs fitter)? 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4A5 17 In: ffy

G. M. DYE

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING PRINTS Filed April 18, 1955 Nov. 22, 1938.

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING PRINTS 4 Sheet-Sheet 5 r 0 9 m x m n, 1M 1 a 2M A W 5 M m 1;, iqw my m M w 3 a M N M ,1 x

Nov. 22, 1938. G. M. DYE

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING PRINTS 4 Sheets-Sh f M MWWM W. V

Z/M a? Filed Apri Patented Nov. 22.1938 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING PRINTS Glen M. Dye, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application April 18, 1935, Serial No. 17,014. 24 Claims. (01.34 48) This invention relates to a drying apparatus others shown in vertical section, certain aprons and particularly to such an apparatus for dryused being omitted; ing photographic prints or similar articles. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the It is an object of this invention to provide a device; drying apparatus, the main extent of which is Fig. 4 is a partial view similar to Fig. 3 shown 5 in a vertical direction so that the apparatus takes on an enlargedscale;

up very little floor space. Fig. 5 is a view in end elevation of the apron- It is another object of the invention to provide guiding means; a drying apparatus comprising one or more trav- Fig. 6 is a partial perspective view ofv said 0 eling flexible fabric aprons of considerable width, guiding means; Y together with means for guiding and positioning Fig. 7 is a partial view of a portion of Fig. 3 said aprons as desired. shown on an enlarged scale;

It is a further object of the invention to pro- Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken substantially vide a drying apparatus comprising a pair of on line 8-8 of Fig. 3 as indicated by the arrow; 5 traveling aprons between which a print is car- Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on line 99 ried together with novel and eflicient driving of Fig. 3 as indicated by the arrow and shown means for said aprons. on an enlarged scale;

It is still another object of the invention to Fig. 10 is a partial view similar to Fig. 3 shown provide a drying apparatus comprising a heated on an enlarged scale;

0 chamber having walls over which a pair of aprons Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken on line I I travel together with means insuring that the of Fig. 10 as indicated by the arrows, the apron aprons will be kept in smooth unwrinkled posibeing removed;

tion throughout their travel. Fig. 12 is a horizontal section taken on line It is also an object of the invention to provide l2--l2 of Fig. 3 as indicated by the arrows; a drying apparatus for photographic prints com- Fig. 13 is a partial view'similar to Fig. 3 shown 25 prising a traveling apron upon which the prints on an enlarged scale; are deposited together with a pair of blotting or Fig. 14 is a vertical section taken on line l4--l4 liquid-absorbingrolls between which the prints of Fig. 3 as indicated by the arrow; pass. Fig. 15 is a vertical section taken on line l5l 5 It is still another object of the invention'to of Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrow; and 30 provide a drying apparatus comprising a casing Fig. 16 is a horizontal section taken on line having opposed walls, the height of the casing l6-l6 of Fig. 3 as indicated by the arrows. being many times the distance between said. Referring to the drawings, a machine is shown walls. comprising a casing 20. This casing comprises It is a further'object oi the invention to proopposed sides 20a of sheet material such as sheet 5 vide an apparatus asset forth in the preceding metal, said sides being of considerable width. paragraph, said casing having contracted por- Said casing has end members 20b in the form oi tlons formjng a series of weus thereim channels having --their open sides facing each It is still another object of the invention toother and saidchannels are many times the 40. provide a drying apparatus including a casing distance between plates 20a inheight. While, of 40 1 and flexible aprons movable thereabout'and carcourse the machine be made in difiereflt mug prints therbetween, Sam casing being sizes, in one embodiment of the device made in shaped so that said prints are flexed in opposite g' the casing is 90 inches in height" 5 directions as,v said aprons travel over said casing. g gfi i fijgz f iggfgxg i a t e ly fzug a These and other objects andadvantages oi the i inventmn will be my forth in the following. Emil iit iiid fiam st thlf ir 33.5 1135; -Wi made in connection i the acwm' webs thereof are fiber or insulating boards 2| n r h ls rew m which like fi charshown'as of three thicknesses and of co ated acters refer tosimilar parts throughout the sevformation, h plates or sides 20a. ar sposed 50 eral views and in which; h at the inner sides of the flanges of the channel Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of said apparamembers 20b and extend therebetween Headed vtu's; and nutted bolts 22 extend through and between Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of said apthe flanges of channels 20b and through the paratusycertain parts being broken away and plates 20a, said bolts engaging the inner sides 55 of the boards2l. The casing 28 has contracted portions 28c at which the sides 28a are closest together, said sides thus converging at said points. The casing 28 thus has a plural- 'ity of swells or expanded portions therein.

Spacing members 28 are disposed between walls 28a at their closest points and bolts 28a extend through said walls and spacing members, thus securing said walls' in position. a

At the bottom of the casing the sides 28a are bent inwardly as shown at 2811 and are spaced from each other, the bottom of the casing thus being open between said sides. At the top of casing 28 a plate 24 is provided at the outer side of each channel 28b and is secured to said channel by bolts 28. Plates 24 are of trapezoidal shape and have horizontal flanges 24a extending some distance over the channels 28b and said plates extend a considerable distance at each side of channels 28b. A roller 28 carried on a shaft 28a is journaled in bearings 21 mounted in members 28b and 24. A plate 28 is carried on said bearings and extends downward at each end of roller 28, the same having an inwardly extending horizontal flange 28a. A plate 28.has a horizontal portion resting on flange 28a and secured thereto by headed and nutted bolts 88. Plate 28 has at one side an upwardly-and outwardly extending portion 28a and at its other side has a downwardly and outwardly extending portion 28b. Below flange 28a the sides 28a of the casing extend inwardly and overlap each other, the same extending somewhat downwardly. At the bottom of the casing 28 plates 8| are secured to the outer sides of channels 28b by headed and nutted bolts lla, said plates also having horizontal flanges extending beneath said channels. Be-

tween saidfianges of plates 8| and the bottoms of said, channels is disposed a plate 38 extending horizontally buthaving an upwardly extending inverted v-shaped portion lie at one end thereof. Casing 28 has holes 28c in the flanges in the webs of channels 281:, said holes thus being in the ends of said casing. A roller 82 has end portions journaled in bearings carried in plates 8! and channels 28b, said roller extending between said channels and centrally transversely of casing 28 just below portions 28d. A gas burner in the ijorm of a tube 84 extends through casing 28, the same having a cap 84a at the outer side of one end of said casing and a connection 88'at its other end to which is connected a gas supply pipe 88 extending from a thermostatically regulated valve 81 secured to one end of said casing. A thermostat 88 extends from valve 81 into the casing 28 and a graduated indicating plate 88a is secured to one end of said casing. A pointer88b is connected to the thermostat and valve 81, cooperating with in dicate temperatur and set said thermostat to maintain the desired temperature in the casing. A gas supply pipe 48 extends downward from valve 81 and is adapted to have secured thereto a supply tube or pipe. Pipe 48 is equipped with a shut-oi! cock 4| having an operating handle' 4la. A small tube 42 extends downward from cock 4| to the burner 84 to a small pilot burner 48,said tube 42"always receiving gas whether cock M is closed or open. Casing-28 also has holes 28! adjacent the top thereof forming an outlet for the products of combustion. Disposed in and extending between the plates 24 are stationary cylindrical shafts 48. The structure-of these shafts is shown in Fig. 9. Said shaft has 'a; reduced portion 48a extending through a hole cations on plate 88a to in-v in one plate 24 substantially fitting said hole and said other plate and being supported therein.

Stationary shafts 45 also extend through and between the channel members 280, the inner sides of which areclosely adjacent the plates 28a at thecontracted points 28c. The shaft shown in Fig. 9 is one of the shafts extending between plates 24. Preferablya hole-28g is provided adjacent reduced portion 48a so that the shaft 48 may be grasped and moved endwise through the opene ing in the opposite supporting member until portion 48a clears its supporting member when it can" be moved laterally and withdrawn through hole 280. Another similar stationary shaft 48!) extends between and through the plates II. A pair of substantially rectangular plates 48 are secured to the outer sides of channels 28b ad- Jacent their centgal portions by headed and nutted bolts 48 and extend forwardly from said channels. A pair of shafts 48c extend through and between plates 48, which shafts may have the construction already described in connection and through plates 48 adjacent their outer edges and central portions. A roller 88 extends between plates 48, being journaled in bearings therein and this roller has secured to one end .thereof a worm wheel gear 8|. Gear 8! meshes with a worm gear 82 carried on a shaft 88, which shaft is journaled in bearings secured to a bracket 84 comprising a casing enclosing gears 8i and 82, said bracket being secured to the outer side of one of the plates 48 by bolts 88. Shaft 88 has secured to its outer end a double pulley 88. A belt 81. runs over pulley 88 and over a smaller pulley 88 secured to the armature .shaft.of a

motor '88. Mptiir 88 has a base plate 880. which is provided with a plurality of apertures receiving resilient collars 8| through which pass headed and nutted bolts 82. also passing through one of the plates '48 and securing the motor to said plate. Bolts 82 have their nutted ends directed outwardly and washers 88 are disposed beneath the nuts thereon and in engagement with the collars 8|. Motor 88 is thus resiliently supported so that little or no vibration is communicated to casing 28. I Roller 88 as shown in Fig. 7 has a solid or rigid central portion covered with an of absorbent or blotting rollers 68. As shown in Figs. 3 and 18 'channel'members '88 incline downwardly inwardly. Lower bearing- 81 rests erably of metal such as steel to give considerable weight, which core is surrounded by a tube 68b of paper or cardboard material and tube 58b is surrounded or wrapped with a plurality of lay-' ers 88c of very absorbent fabric., While any strong fabric having high absorbent qualities could be used, in practice it has been found very satisfactory to use a cloth known as diaper cloth. The rollers 68 thus rest on each other to run in contact and the direction of rotation at their engaging lines should be such as to act to wind the cloth rather than unwind it. In order. that the rolls maybe replaced properly if removed, the ends thereof are marked with a certain color and the roller bearings are marked with a spot of the same color as shown at 61a.

Bars I8 extend along the outer sides of plates 48 adjacent their bottom corners, said bars having therein a plurality of spaced holes 180.. Said bars are secured to plates 48 by bolts Ii extending therethroughhaving thereon wing nuts 12. Bars 18 are pivotally secured at their outer ends by headed and nutted bolts I3 to the upper ends of a pair of angle bars I4 which extend downwardly and toward casing 28 and are pivotally secured, at their lower ends to the outer lower corners of the plates 3| by bolts I5, said bars being inside of said plates. Bars I4 ,are connected by crossed angle bar brace members I8 connected at their central portions by bolts 11. seen that the bolts-Ii can be placed in any one of the holes 18a. A plate I8 extends between plates 48 and channel members 28b a short distance below the top of plates 48and at the front of casing 28, said plate having its upper end lying close- 1y against the front side of casing 28 adjacent its upper contracted portion and having an outwardly extending angular portion below its upper end a short distance belowroller 58. The lower end of said plate lies closely against the front side of casing 28 about midway between shafts 45c and A pair of traveling aprons are provided and one of these designated I9, which may be called the inner apron, extends outward a little below the center of plates 48, beneath the lower stationary shaft 45] and around the outer side thereof, between said shafts and over the top,of the upper stationary shaft 45 then downward and inwardly tocasing 28. Said apron then extends over the top of stationary shaft 45d, downwardly closely along the side 28a of casing 28, said apron being guided into and along the contracted por-- tion by passing inside of the stationary shaft 45 and then passing closely along casing 28 downwardly and around the roller 32 at the bottom of casing 28. Said apron passes in contact with said roller and then upwardly closely engaging just above the overlapped portions of the sides 28a and beneath plate 28 and roller 28. Said apron then passes downwardly along the front of casing 28 inside of roller 45 just above plates 48,

then downwardly beneath roller 58 around theforwardly projecting portion of plate I8 at the inner side of stationary shaft 45c through a guidthe device to be later described and then for- It will be wardly beneath lower stationary shaft 45! as already describedDMnother apron 88 is provided which may be calledthe outer apron and this apron passes inside of the stationary shaft 45 at the front of casing 28 just above plates 48, downwardly beneath and around the driving roller 58, between the roller and the gravity roller, 64, upwardly at the inner side of said gravity roller to the forward top stationary shaft 45 in the plates 24, then rearwardly to stationary shaft 45, above roller 28 over and downwardly at the rear side some distance at the rear of casing 28, through a guiding device to be later described, then substantially horizontally and forwardly beneath stationary shaft 45b extending between plates 3|, then upwardly and forwardly through another guiding device and then'sloping upwardly and rearwardly to and over the top of forward stationary shaft 450, thendownwardly around the lower blotting roller 88, upwardly and over the top of the inner stationary shaft 450. Said apron 88 then extends inwardly to and over the top of stationary shaft 45d where it comes into contact with the other inner apron I9. Apron 88 then passes downwardly closely against apron I8 inside of stationary shaft 45 at the front of the casing below plates 48, then downwardly closely against apron I9 around the roller 32 at the bottom of casing 28 in engagement with apron I8 and upwardly along the rear side of the casing 28 in engagement with apron I8, both aprons passing inside of the stationary shafts 45. Apron 88 then passes over the top ofroller 26, downwardly again in engagement with apron I9 at the front top part of the casing 28 at the inner side of front stationary shaft 45 just above plates 48 and beneath driving roller 58 as already described. The inner apron I9 is driven and moved with apron 88 at the same speed as apron 88, the same being moved by friction of apron 88.

A bail 8| has its end portions 8Ia journaled in the channel members 28b and swings outwardly by gravity having its top portion bearing against the inner sideof apron 88 some distance below the upper front stationary shaft 45 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.-

Guidin'g devices for the aprons are provided. One of these designated 82 is disposed between stationary shafts 45c and 45d at an otherwise slack portion of inner apron I8. Said guiding device comprises a pair of oppositely disposed plates 82a to lie against the main portion of the plates as shown in Figs. 5 and v6. Said plates are connected at the sides of the apron by a headed bolt 83 having thereon a thumb or wing nut 84. Between p1ates82a and disposed on bolt 83 is a cylindrical washer 85. The apron I9 runs between plates 82a with light friction and the guiding device 82 rests upon or rides upon the apron, said guiding device being held in position endwise by engaging the inner sides of plates 48. The edges of the apron are engageable with the edges of washers 85. A somewhat similar guiding device 86 is provided for apron 88 at the lower rear corner of its run, the same comprising opposed plates 86a and 88b having their upper ends diverging and reversely bent. The lower edge of plate 86aextends inwardly substantially at a right angle and has its end reversely bent or folded.

"of said rear shaft 45, then vertically downward The plate 86b is bent substantially at a right 33. Studs 81 extend from the rear flange of channel 29b, rearwardly'through plates 96a and 961), the same being provided with nuts 88 at the forward side ofthe channel flange and with wing nuts 99 at the rear side of plate 86b. A spacer collar 99 surrounds said bolt between the rear sideof the channel flange and the forward side of the plate 86a. 'Washers similar to washers 85 also surround bolts 91 between plates 86a and 86b and a washer similar to washer surrounds H each bolt 92 between plates 9la and 9lb and is engageable by the edge of apron 89. The apron 89 runs with light friction between the plates 86a and 86b and between plates 9la and 9lb.

Angle plates 95 are secured to the inner sides of plates 48 and have one flange extending at right angles to said plates and vertically, the same forming with plate 18 a guide channel for the guiding and tensioning member 92; A ball 96 of rectangular form has its end portions bent outwardly and pivotally mounted in plates 95 and 48 at 96a, saidbail having side portions resting on top of the upper stationary shaft 45 at the sides respectively of apron 19. A basket 91 of openwork formation and rectangular in horizontal and vertical cross section rests upon bail 96 and is adapted to receive prints as they pass from between theaprons over the edge of the forwardly projecting portion of plate 18. Castor rollers 98 are secured to plates 3| and support the machine.

In operation, when it is desired to dry prints the cock 4| will be opened by operating handle Ma and the pilot burner 43 will then ignite burner 34. Air is supplied for combustion through connection 35 and air can also pass into casing 29 through the openings 29e. Casing 29, and particularly walls 29a thereof, is thus heated and the hot air and products of combustion can pass out through the upper holes 29). Motor 69 will be driven and through the belt 51, pulley 56 and gears 52 and 5| will be driven. Roller 59 is thus driven and this roller drives and moves the endless outer apron 89. This drive of apron 89 is greatly assisted by the gravity roller 64 which rests against apron 89, holding it in good contact with roller 59. Apron 89 thus moves upwardly at the front from rollers 59 and 64 and over the rollers and shafts previously described. Apron 89 engages the inner apron 19 adjacent stationary shaft 45d and throughout the surface of casing 29 and apron I9 is moved along with, apron 89 by friction, both aprons'thus moving over the surface of the casing walls 29a. As apron 89 moves around lower blotting roller 88 said roller is rotated and roller 98 being in contact the upper two rollers are thus rotated. The prints to be dried are taken from the washing bath and placed face downward upon apron 99 at the upwardly sloping portion moving above bars 19. The prints -move upward on this portion of the apron and are thus moved in between the two top rollers 68. The prints can not make the sharp bend downward about outer roller 45c and as the line of contact between rolls 68 is substantially in line with the surface of apron 99, the prints move in between top rolls 69 and again move onto apron 99 where the same runs between stationary shafts 45c and 45d. As the prints move between rolls 68 all water which has been on the prints is blotted therefrom so that there are no pools or drops of water on the prints. The prints after passing through the rolls 68 are, of course, still moist or wet but the surface has been uniformly blotted. The prints now pass inward and are engaged by both aprons as they pass over shaft 45d and the prints are thus carried downward between the aprons closely against front wall 29a, around roller 32 at the bottom of casing 29 and upward closely along the rear wall 29a. The prints thus pass at the inner sides of the stationary shafts 45 at the contracted portions of casing 29. It will be seen that this movement of the aprons and prints inside of these shafts flexes the prints in opposite directions. This is very advantageous in the drying operation and tends to make the prints come out in fiat condition. The prints pass upward and pass between apron 89 and the top roll 26. It will be noted that the inner apron 19 makes a short cut over the top of casing 29 and does not pass over roller 26. After passing over roller 26 the prints again move between and with the aprons 19 and 89, being guided between the aprons by the front side of plate 29. The prints now pass downward around the upper front side'of casing 29, closely adjacent the casing and move downwardly as apron 89 turns around roll 59. Apron 19 makes a sharp turn around the front edge of the pointed portion of plate 18 and the prints move outwardly and drop over the edges of the apron at this pOint into basket 91. The prints delivered in basket 91 are in dried condition. The prints are in the desired flat condition and are not cockled or warped. The hand or pointer 38b will be set in connection with the scale on plate 38a to give the desired degree of heat or the desired temperature for drying the prints. The temperature must be nicely regulated because if too much heat is used the prints warp and wrinkle in a manner known as cockling. Too much heat also tends to objectionably change the color of the prints. The

prints on the other hand must not be delivered I drifting or moving too far to one side or the other.

Various methods and structures have been tried to keep the aprons moving without objectlonal lateral creeping or shifting. The guiding means devised in the present machine Work perfectly and the aprons run continuously without any objectionable lateral movement." It has been found that the, guiding means used must be disposed at a portion of the apron-which is under little or no tension. In driving similar aprons in the prior art, the apron was usually so tensioned over rollers that the friction against the driven rollers would move the apron. In the present invention the drive is localized at the rollers 59 and 64. The apron is held firmly engaged and pulled toward the rolls one way and fed from them in the other direction. The apron 89 is under very light tension from the'point of leaving the rollers 59 and 64 until it passes the blotting rollers 68. After passing these and passing over shaft 45d it becomes quite strongly tensioned and is under considerable tension as it moves along the walls of casing 29, over rollers 32 and 26 and beneath the shafts 45 adjacent casing 29. It may be stated that these shafts 45 adjacent the portions 280 of casing 20 act to tension the aprons. The

guiding devices 86 and 9| are therefore at the portions of very light tension. The apron I9 is likewise under considerable tension between shaft 4511 in its downward run until it passes under shaft 45 just above plates 48 and said apron is under very light tension from this roller 45 until it again passes shaft 45d. Guiding device 82 is therefore disposed at a slack portion or portion of light tension. It will be noted that the guiding member 82 also acts as a tensioning means for the inner apron 19. The guiding member 82 as described rests upon apron I9. The outer apron 80 is tensioned by the bail 8| and also by adjustment of the bars 10. The aprons stretch as they are used and become somewhat smaller in width due to the fact that they are under tension and are moistened and thus require propertensioning Another problem was encountered in the wrinkling or rufiling of the aprons along the sides 20a when both aprons passed over the top and bottom rollers which was due to the fact that the outer apron must travel a longer path. This was overcome by having the inner apron make the short cut over the top of the casing and not pass over the top roller.

The method of blotting the prints by the blotting rolls is new. As stated the rolls are highly absorbent and all excess liquid is removed from the prints as they pass through the two upper rolls 68. The rolls are in firm contact due to their heavy weight and the lower roll is rotated by apron 80 and imparts rotation to the other two. Moisture is taken by the middle roll and a large part of this is transferred to the lower roll. Apron 88 takes considerable moisture from the lower roll so that moisture is continuously being taken from the rolls.

With the present machine prints are perfectly dried within 12 minutes after being taken from the washing bath. This is a great improvement in the art. It has been the standard practice in studios to take the prints from the washing bath, pile-them between .blotters and allow them to remain for quite a period. The prints were then taken from these blotters and rolled up with other blotters between corrugated board. After standing several hours in this condition they were placed in cylinders over a stove or heater and dried. This operation usually took over night. The present machine, therefore, enables photographers to deliver prints a day earlier than before. In addition the prints are in perfect condition and the hazard of having the prints damaged in the drying process is eliminated. One great advantage of the machine is that it takes up very little floor space. The

previous machines for drying prints have com-- prised large cylinders having a large horizontal dimension. Some of the dryingmachines now in use are of very large dimensions. It will be seen that the present machine takes up very little room in the print-handling establishment.

It is necessary at intervals to remove the aprons for laundering. This can be readily done as the rollers and shafts over which the aprons move are quickly removable. It has already been described how the stationary shafts can be removed by a simple endwise and lateral movement. These stationary shafts are also kept from turning by the laterally projecting portion of spring 46 which engages the flange of the channels 2% in some cases or some otherstationarymember. The rolls 68 are easily removed by being removed from the channel members 65. The plates 86 and 33 together with the upstanding angular portion 33a and the plates 3| form a housing or protection for the apron 80 at its lowest portion. Said housing protects said apron from dirt and possible contact with a cleaning mop which might be used near the machine.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a novel and highly efficient method and apparatus for drying photographic prints and similar articles. Thestructure of the machine is simple when the function performed is considered. The machine operates continuously and the drying can be nicely regulated. The device has been amply demonstrated in ac tual practice and is being commercially made.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the apparatus and in the steps and sequence of steps of the method without departing from the scope of applicant's invention, which, generally stated, consists in a method and apparatus capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, such as disclosed and definedin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. A drying apparatus for prints or the like having in combination, a vertically disposed casing of small thickness and great height having opposed substantially parallel walls, said casing having. contracted portions forming a plurality of communicating chambers with converging top and bottom portions, a pair of aprons movable about said casing adapted to carry a print therebetween, and means adjacent said portions causing said apronsto engage and follow the surface of said casing and acting to tension said aprons.

2. A device of the class described having in combination, a traveling flexible fabric apron having a slack portion and a guiding and tensioning means riding,.-on said slack portion and comprising flat members between which said apron moves with light friction and having means between said plates engageable by the edges of said apron.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, said last mentioned means comprising cylindrical members, the cylindrical peripheries of which are en.- gageable by the edges of said apron.

4. An apparatus for drying photographic prints or similar articles having in combination, a traveling apron of flexible sheet material, means for driving and supporting said apron and for creating therein a portion under light tension anda portion under greater tension and a guiding means for controlling the lateral position of said apron past which said apron travels, said guiding means being disposed at said portion of light tension.

5. A device of the class'described having in combination, a flexible traveling fabric apron, means over which said apron passes and guiding means comprising plates between which said apron moves with light friction and having means therebetween engageable by the edges of said apron and means for determining the lateral position of said guiding means.

6. An apparatus for .drying photographic prints or similar articles having in combination, a pair of blotting means movable about separate axes through which a print may pass, a casing having or similar articles having in combination, a casing having a wall with substantially semi-cylindrical convex and concave portions, means for heating said wall and means for conveying a print closely adjacent said wall and pressing it toward said wall to cause it to follow the contour of said portions to flex it in opposite directions.

8. An apparatus for drying photographic prints or similar articles having in combination, 9. casing having a wall with a surface having substantially semi-cylindrical convex and concave portions, a pair of aprons of flexible sheet material movable in close proximity to said wall and carrying a print therebetween and means for constraining said aprons to follow the contour of said portions and flex said print in'opposite directions.

9. The combination of a movable apron for carrying a print and a pair of parallel moistureabsorbing rollers having closely adjacent surfaces moving in the d rection of travel of said apron, said apron being constructed and arranged to deliver a print to said rollers and receive said print after it passes between said rollers.

.10. The combination of a movable apron for carrying a print and a pair of moisture-removing members having absorbent surfaces and movable about separate axes, said apron being construct ed and arranged to deliver said print to said members and receive the same therefrom.

11. A print drying machine having in combination, three rollers with absorbent surfaces, two of said rollers having their surfaces in contact with the surface of the third roller and means for driving said rollers so that a print can be progressed between one of said two rollers and said third roller to have moisture removed therefrom and the other of said two rollers will absorb moisture from said third roller.

12. The structure set forth in claim 11, said rollers having their axes substantially in one line.

13. A print drying machine having in combination, three rollers one above the other with their axes substantially in one line, an apron for conveying a print movable closely adjacent said rollers, then downwardly and around the lower roller in contact therewith to drive the same, the middle roller being driven by said lower roller and the top roller being driven by said middle roller.

14. A print drying machine having in combination, three rollers one above the other with their axes substantially in one line, an apron for conveying a print movable in a plane substantially passing between the upper and middle rollers to aline adjacent the same, then downwardly around and in engagement with the lower roller, then upward in a line closely in the rear of said rollers and approximately in said plane and then away from said rollers, said rollers being driven by said apron.

'15. A print drying machine having in combination, three rollers one above the other with their axessubstantially in one line, an apron for conhaving a slack pbrtion and a guiding and ten-,

sioning meansthrough which said apron moves list members, between which said apron moves with light friction against its sides and means between said flat members having con- 'vex surfaces engageable by the edges of said apron.

1'7. A blotting roller for a print drying machine comprising a rigid solid core, a tube of rigid but softer material surrounding said core and a multiplicity of layers of highly absorbent cloth fabric wound on said tube.

18. A print drying machine having in combination, acasing having spaced substantially vertical side walls with a chamber therebetween, the height of said casing being many times the distance between said walls, means for heating said chamber and walls, an inner apron movable from a line at one side of and intermediate the top and bottom of said casing downwardly along and in engagement with the front side wall of said casing for a large part of said side wall to the lower end thereof, across the distance between the lower ends of said walls, upwardly along the whole extent of said rear side wall in engagement therewith, across the distance between the upper ends 'of said walls, downwardly along a large part of said front side wall in engagement therewith and then outwardly to a discharge point and then to said line, and an outer apron movable with and over said inner apron, from said line around said casing to said'discharge point and then movable upwardly and over said casing, downwardly at the rear side spaced from said casing, beneath said casing and upwardly and outwardly, then toward said casing to convey a print to said line and between said aprons.

19. A drying apparatus for prints or the like having in combination, a vertically disposed stationary casing having opposed side walls forming a chamber therein, the height of said casing being many times the distance between said side walls, means for heating said chamber and walls, means at the top and bottom of said casing constructed and arranged for the passage of an apron thereover in moving a between said side walls and from one to the other, an endless apron of flexible material moving around said casing and from one side wall across said means tothe other side wall at both ends of said casing, a second apron movable toward one sidewall of said casing at a point intermediate the top and bottom of said casing to convey a print thereto, then movable along said sidewall substantially in contact with said first mentioned apron. then movable around said means at the bottom of said casing and upwardly along the whole extent of the other side wall, then around said means at the top of said casing to and along said first mentioned side wall for a large part of its extent, said first mentioned apron being driven by friction with said second apron, a print being carried around said casing between said aprons.

20. A drying apparatus for prints or the like having in combination, a stationary casing having side walls spaced a small distance apart compared to their width and height, said casing having a chamber therein, means for heating said chamber and walls, an endless apron movable completely around and enclosing said casing along both side walls at the ends of said casing and across the distance between said side walls at both ends of said casing, a second apron movable toward and away from one of said side walls at intermediate points therein along the greater part of said one side wall in engagement with the outer side of said first mentioned apron and along the other side wall and around the ends of said casing for carrying a print to said casing and around the same between said aprons, said first mentioned apron being driven by friction from said second apron.

21. An apparatus for drying photographic prints or similar articles having in combination, an elongated casing having opposed walls spaced a small distance apart compared to their length and width, a roller at each end of said casing and substantially between the planes of said walls at their end portions, a pair of endless aprons movable in contact with each other around the ends of said casing from one side wall to the other and along said side walls, at least one of which passes around both of said rollers.

22. An apparatus for drying photographic prints or similar articles having in combination, an elongated casing having opposed walls spaced a small distance apart compared to their length and width, a roller at each end of said casing and substantially between the planes of said walls at their end portions, an inner apron extending around said casing and engaging the whole length of one side wall and the greater part of the other side wall movable over one of said rollers at one end of said casing and from one side wall to the other but between the other of said rollers and the other end of said casing and a second apron movable in engagement with said inner apron at the top and bottom portions of both side walls small distance compared to their length, said casing having apron-supporting means at one end thereof spaced longitudinally of said casing thus forming inner and outer supporting means,

inner and outer aprons movable in contact along said side walls at the portions thereof adjacent said end of said casing, said inner apron moving from said portion over the inner of said supporting means and said outer apron moving from said portion over the outer of said supporting means so that said aprons are in contact inwardly of said inner supporting means but are spaced where they pass over said supporting means, the opposed sides of said aprons converging as they pass over said supporting means.

GLEN M. DYE. 

